In Wednesday's edition of this blog's recurring "pastry shelf" feature, Wonk profiled Michigan State's next opponent, the Colonels of Nicholls State University. Thinking he had diligently researched this institution of higher education located in Thibodaux, Louisiana, Wonk, it turns out, had barely scratched the surface....

Wonk, Having lived in New Orleans for a while I must say that Thibodaux is a nice little town. In fact one of my best friends is a Nicholls graduate and is an adjunct teaching there at present. That being said basketball is not on the top of anyone's list of priorities since one has to pass too many drive-in daquiri stands to get to the court.--Dave N.Wonk's readers are so well-informed they know of the location and prevalence of drive-in daquiri stands in Thibodaux, Louisiana! Thanks, Dave!Speaking of Nicholls State....In today's less Wonk-ish venues....At noon eastern the Colonels of Nicholls State will offer themselves as a five-fold human sacrifice on the court of the Breslin Center at Michigan State. Slaughter preview here.Alabama defeated Minnesota 78-72 last night in the semifinals of the Great Alaska Shootout in Anchorage, Alaska. (Link here.) What is up with this, Wonk readers ask? The consensus 10th-best team in the Big Ten hanging with the top-25 Crimson Tide? Further elucidation coming tonight, perhaps, when the Gophers take on Oklahoma in the third-place game.Providence beat Michigan 72-63 in the third-place game of the Preseason NIT last night. Links here and here.Illinois faces Gonzaga today in the opening game of the fifth annual John Wooden Tradition in Indianapolis. (Links here, here, here, and here.) Want a link to the Zags' hometown (Spokane) paper? Too bad! It's a paid site! Wonk warning: Wonk's ire at such oddities is building into a big post for a slow day.Purdue plays Cincinnati in today's second game at the John Wooden Tradition in Indianapolis. Links here, here, and here.Penn State hosts Sacred Heart today. Link here.Indiana hosts Western Illinois tonight. Link here.Ohio State hosts Tennessee-Chattanooga tonight in the first game played by the Buckeyes in their former home, St. John's Arena, since 1998. Link here.Wisconsin wins Wonk's first-ever You Are Highly Intelligent! Award, traveling to Malibu for a game against Pepperdine. (Links here, here, and here.) Wonk has seen his share of college campuses but believes Pepperdine's is the single most beautiful one he has yet encountered.